Crosspool News – crosspool.info
The Crosspool community website run by Crosspool Forum
A further £20,000 has been pledged in support of the Plough pub since the last public meeting.
The campaign to reopen the Sandygate Road pub is looking to raise £120,000 through a community share issue.
A recent post on the campaign Facebook page says:
A few days ago, we needed 150 people to make a minimum pledge. Now that’s down to 80 – we’re sure if we all work hard, we can find those people.
Please email – ploughsandygate@gmail.com for a pledge form or to make a pledge.
Expect an update on pledges and next steps.
Wednesday’s quiz night at The Sportsman pub was well attended as usual.
The local quiz regulars were joined by visitors from Stannington and Hillsborough as resident quizmaster Roger chose a selection of traditional and Crosspool quiz questions to make the evening enjoyable for all.
The Star: Mystery man offers £500,000 to save Sheffield pub that escaped becoming a supermarket
The Save the Plough campaign is looking to raise £120,000 through a community share issue.
The group has been in discussions with a private investor who has offered to buy the freehold of The Plough and lease it back to the community group on favourable terms over an initial 10-year period. The private investor would cover the acquisition and external refurbishment costs.
The £120,000 would cover the initial start-up costs of the business.
If you are interested in making an investment in The Plough contact the group directly by emailing ploughsandygate@gmail.com or Facebook for a copy of the pledge form.
A public meeting is also scheduled to take place on Thursday 15 June, 7pm at St Columba’s on Manchester Road.
A post from the Facebook page:
We have formed the Plough Community Benefit Society Ltd and have registered with the Financial Conduct Authority. This means that we are now in a position to raise funds through a Community Share Issue.
Originally, our plan was to buy the freehold of the Plough which had been put on the market for offers in excess of £550,000. We commissioned a valuation from an independent consultant who valued the pub at £435,000. Clearly raising that kind of money plus funds for refurbishment would have been a tough challenge.
However, very recently, we have been in discussions with a private investor who has offered to buy the freehold of the Plough and lease it back to the community group on favourable terms over an initial 10 year period.
Financially, this makes our target much more achievable. The private investor would cover the acquisition and external refurbishment costs. We would be responsible for refitting the interior of the pub.
We are looking to raise £120,000 through a Community Share Issue which would cover the initial start-up costs of the business.
We are now seeking to gauge the level of support for a potential Community Share Issue. Shares will be valued at £1 and sold in batches with a minimum investment of £250 rising to the legal maximum of £20,000. All shareholders will have equal voting rights irrespective of the value of their holding.
If you would be interested in making an investment in the Plough, please contact us directly by email for a copy of our Pledge Form: ploughsandygate@gmail.com. Or contact us through Facebook messenger.
Please consider making a financial and social investment in the Plough as both a traditional local pub and a thriving community asset.
We will be in Crosspool precinct tomorrow morning if you would like to talk to us and we are planning to hold a public meeting on June 15th.
The Sportsman pub is open as normal this week while refurbishment work starts but will close for a makeover from 6pm on Sunday 5 March in time for the expected reopening on Friday 10 March.
Follow The Sportsman on Facebook for the latest updates
Crosspool Tavern is also due to be refurbished later this year.
The Crosspool Tavern pub is due to be refurbished later this year.
The work was expected to take place in April, but has now been pushed back to a later, as-yet-unconfirmed date.
Sainsbury’s will not be appealing the planning decision for The Plough, according to the Save the Plough and the Sporting Heritage of Sandygate campaign group.
In the Sheffield Telegraph, a spokeswoman for Sainsbury’s said: “Following the decision to refuse the planning application, we have reviewed our options and have decided not to proceed with an appeal. We will continue to look for further opportunities in the area.”
True North Brewery, the owners of several successful South Yorkshire pubs including The York in Broomhill, said in another Sheffield Telegraph article that they’d be interested in buying The Plough pub should it be put on the market.
The convenience store planning application from Sainsbury’s was refused permission at the Sheffield City Council planning committee meeting on 10 January.
The convenience store planning application from Sainsbury’s was refused permission at the Sheffield City Council planning committee meeting this afternoon.
The decision was unanimous and the reason given is:
In the opinion of the Local Planning Authority, the proposal to change the use of the public house (Use Class A4) to retail (Use Class A1) would involve the loss of a building that is considered to be a valued community asset, which before its recent closure supported community groups and activities catering for the social wellbeing and interests of a wide section of the local community, being designated an Asset of Community Value.
The public house is considered to be well regarded by the local community and there are no alternative premises within a reasonable travelling distance for many of the individuals who use the premises.
The Local Planning Authority is of the opinion that insufficient evidence has been provided by the applicant to demonstrate that the use of the building as a public house is unviable and incapable of continuing to be used as such for the foreseeable future.
To grant planning permission in this instance would therefore be contrary to Paragraph 70 of National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which seeks to guard against the unnecessary loss of valued facilities and services.
Around 50 members of the public were present at the meeting. Opinions were given both for and against granting planning permission.
Council planning officers had previously recommended that The Plough should be retained as a public house and community asset.
Read the planning application officer’s report (PDF, 1119KB)
The Save the Plough and the Sporting Heritage of Sandygate campaign group have explained what could happen next:
Sainsbury’s may appeal the decision – although we hope that as a responsible company they will respect the wishes of the local community and the decision made by the local authority
Enterprise Inns may leave the building empty and boarded up – however, we have already discussed with councillors the option of a compulsory purchase if the building is left in a state of disrepair
Enterprise could reopen the pub as a ‘managed house’ – although we doubt they would want to spend in excess of £100,000 to bring the buildng back into use
Enterprise could put the pub on the market – this would trigger a six month period during which the option of a community buy-out could be considered. Alternatively, another brewery or pub operator could come foward and buy the pub to run it is a going concern. We are aware that a number of local breweries/pub companies have expressed an interest in taking on the Plough.
Planning officers are recommending that the convenience store planning application from Sainsbury’s is refused and that the Plough should be retained as a public house and community asset.
Read the planning application officer’s report (PDF, 1119KB)
The report goes to the Planning Committee on Tuesday 10 January.
The Save the Plough and the Sporting Heritage of Sandygate campaign group posted on Facebook: “Thanks to everyone who has supported us during a long and quite challenging community campaign.”
You’re invited for a festive drink and mince pie on Friday 23 December between 5:30pm. and 6:30pm in The Plough car park.
